The first Welsh micro-hydropower demonstration site was constructed next to a historical farmhouse of Ty Mawr Wybrnant in North Wales with supports from National Trust. On the 9th of September, 2019, the demonstration site has been successfully connected to the grid and is currently fully operational.
In comparison to conventional hydropower installations, the novelty of this installation lies in its simplicity, low capital cost and replicability. Pump-as-Turbine, which consists of a standard water pump working in reverse as a turbine, is used in this demonstration site. Now, the demonstration site is generating in parallel to the grid through a type-approved G98 solar inverter. The measured power output from the inverter was in line with the expectations, reaching up to 4 kW with respect to a design output of 3.6 kW.
The outside view of the powerhouse
The interior view of the powerhouse (electric equipment connected to Pump-as-Turbine)